Rice tops Princeton Review’s best-value list of private colleges

HOUSTON, October 12, 2007--Rice University is the nation’s No. 1 best value among private colleges, according to the 2008 edition of the Princeton Review’s “America’s Best-Value Colleges.”

The new rankings are based on data obtained from administrators at more than 650 colleges during the 2005-06 academic year and surveys of students attending those schools. Criteria included academics, tuition, financial aid and student borrowing.

“We are proud to have Rice University singled out for both the high quality of education offered here and the university’s track record for meeting students’ need for financial aid,” said Rice President David Leebron. “With tuition lower than that of our peers and a small faculty-student ratio, Rice offers students an affordable, enviable opportunity to study at one of the world’s leading private research universities on a beautiful campus in the heart of Houston’s vibrant, diverse metropolis.”

The Princeton Review’s new book refers to Rice as the “Ivy of the South” and cites the small class size and “an array of varied and challenging academic programs.” Describing the tree-lined campus as “an oasis of architectural beauty,” the book highlights Rice’s residential college system. The write-up about Rice also mentions that Rice graduates have one of the lowest debt burdens among graduates of highly selective schools in the U.S.

The Princeton Review is an education-services company known for its test-prep courses, books and college admissions services. For the complete list of the 165 best-value schools, visit the Princeton Review online.